The kovsh, a traditional Russian drinking vessel, was originally used to scoop ale or mead from a barrel but evolved into a purely decorative object in the late nineteenth century. This example is enamelled en plein with a scene from the Zaporozhye Cossacks, after the painting by Ilya Repin (1844–1930). It was made in the Moscow workshop of Feodor Rückert. The enamelling over the body and high-hooked handle is in brighter colours than the habitual muted blues, greens, browns and greys that are associated with this revivalist style. Queen Elizabeth owned a number of pieces made by Fabergé in this style but the precise date of its acquisition is unknown. Its English hallmarks indicate that it was originally sold through the London branch. Mark of Feodor Rückert; Moscow silver mark of 88 zolotniks (1908-17); C. Fabergé in Cyrillic characters; English import marks for 1913 Text adapted from Fabergé in the Royal Collection